Nashville-based artists Hailey Whitters and Ben Rector jointly released last Friday, March 15, their new duet single: "Color Up My World," a rootin' tootin' banjo-backed country pop joint the duo collaborated on ahead of their performance on Dan + Shay's "Heartbreak On The Map Tour."
The tour is set to run through April 13, starting from last Friday's Columbus, Ohio performance, and will comprise notable showings at Savannah's Enmarket Arena, Nashville's Bridgestone Arena, and Boston's TD Garden venue, among others.
About Hailey Whitters and Ben Rector's 'Color Up My World'
As per Whitters, her new track with Rector "just makes [her] feel good," saying, " "The minute I heard this song I was instantly sold."
"Ben is insanely talented and I was honored he asked me to be a part of it," she continued. "Every time we sing it, it makes me smile and it's been fun watching the audience respond in a similar way on tour."
According to Rector, his idea for the song popped up after he found out Hailey Whitters would be joining him on Dan + Shay's Spring tour, sharing that he felt ecstatic.
"I've followed her music since I first heard it, and I thought it would be fun to perform a song together on the tour," he continued, adding that it aligns with his recent open approach to all things "fun" involving music.
Indeed, Whitters and Rector seemingly rode and enjoyed the process of co-writing together, with Whitters recalling one instance where "the opening few lines of this song just popped out" as soon as he grabbed his friend's banjo.
"It was one of those special songs that came together really quickly and felt like it could be an authentic fit for both Hailey and me, and something that would be a ton of fun to play together," he said. "I'm really proud of how it came together and am so excited to release it into the world."
The tour and consequent release of the recent duet single follows Whitters last Summer release: her six-song "Im In Love" EP that was distributed through Pigasus, Songs & Daughters, and Big Loud Records.
This particular record enjoyed critical success, with publications like Whiskey Riff, Billboard, and Stereogum naming it the best song of the week and describing it as "an eminently charming pop-country song" where "every little corner of the arrangement shines."
Her EP's title track of the same name still holds onto its Top 50 placements on the Billboard Country Radio and Mediabase charts a year after its release, a follow-up win after her RIAA Platinum-certified smash hit "Everything She Ain't."
As for Whitters and Rector's recent single, fans can now listen to it on all major streaming platforms by clicking here. The MV of "Color Up My World," on the other hand, can be watched below:
Complete Tour Dates of Dan + Shay's "Heartbreak On The Map Tour" with Ben Rector and Hailey Whitters:
3/15: Columbus, OH - Nationwide Arena
3/16: Knoxville, TN - Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center
3/20: Savannah, GA - Enmarket Arena
3/21: Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
3/22: Chicago, IL - United Center
4/4: Milwaukee, WI - Fiserv Forum
4/5: Saint Paul, MI - Xcel Energy Center
4/6: Omaha, NE - CHI Health Center Omaha
4/7: Kansas City, MO - T-Mobile Center
4/11: Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center
412: Newark, NJ - Prudential Center
4/13: Boston, MA - TD Garden
